Warning issued after Peak District campfires found

A series of campfires have been found in the Peak District - just days after a major blaze damaged a large area of moorland.

Rangers for Severn Trent discovered six sites near Ladybower Reservoir where visitors had built rough hearths or simply set light to wood on the grass.

Fires and camping are banned in the Upper Derwent Valley, and the rangers said any that were lit could burn underground for weeks, damage roots and send embers to surrounding moors.

At the same time, the fire crews who tackled the blaze, which badly damaged 340 hectares (840 acres) around Snake Pass, renewed their appeal for people to tidy up all litter, put out cigarettes carefully and never use barbecues or gas stoves.

All six of the fires were found over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Dan Taberner, from Severn Trent, said: "We want everyone to be able to enjoy the beauty of the Upper Derwent reservoirs, but it's really important people understand the very real risk that barbecues and small fires can pose.

"With the recent dry weather, the risk of wildfires is much higher. Once a fire starts, it can spread quickly and be incredibly difficult to control, causing devastating damage to the landscape and wildlife.

"That's why we're asking visitors not to light fires, use barbecues or camp anywhere in the area, to help prevent incidents like those we've sadly seen recently."

The Snake Pass fire, which closed the famous road for a period of time, affected an area equivalent to nearly 480 football pitches.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) said this meant large areas of wildlife habitat had been destroyed, affecting species that rely on the fragile moorland ecosystem.

Station manager and joint wildfire lead for DFRS, Mark King, said: "Protecting our moorland is a shared responsibility.

"With warmer weather forecast to continue into the weekend, I urge everyone to please act responsibly and help us protect these landscapes."

Both Severn Trent and DFRS thanked partner organisations, the National Trust, Peak District National Park and Eastern Moors Rangers, along with local farmers and gamekeepers, who also monitor the area and help with tackling fires.

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